At this time of year, I tend to write about something special for the Christmas table, but the festive season is also a time when many of us have a house full of thirsty friends and family members, so some good value for money is also to be called for.
The Lacrau label, named after a species of scorpion, comes from Secret Spot, one of the great recent names in the Douro Valley that also make wines in the Trás-os-Montes region. This is their entry level Lacrau white, priced at €6.49 and widely available. In fact, I first discovered it as a house wine in a local restaurant and was impressed. In the price range under €10, this wine is hard to beat for overall quality but, at less than €7, I would say it is pretty unbeatable.
This is a field blend made from a vineyard containing Gouveio, Rabigato, Verdelho, Viosinho and Moscatel Galego Branco grapes.
The wine is easy drinking but has unusual complexity and finesse for a wine in this price range. It is pale yellow in colour with citrus and tropical fruit aromas coming to the front, great freshness in the mouth, with good acidity and a nice dry finish.
